NASHVILLE-The Nashville Kats held off a valiant effort by the Orlando Predators in a 37-28 win dutring Week 13 of the AFL season.
RW Warden fumbled the opening kickoff for the Predators, and Jose Killian recovered for the Kats at the Orlando 23-yard line. Five plays later, Curt Wardlaw threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Damien Holden giving Nashville a 7-0 lead with 12:06 left in the first quarter. Following a Predators' punt, the Kats took two plays to strike again. Wardlaw fired an 85-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Falk extending the lead to 14-0 with 7:58 left in the first. Orlando would answer back, driving 85 yards on 9 plays. Woodrow Richardson threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah O'Connell making it 14-7 with 4:11 to go in the first quarter.
The teams would trade punts into the second quarter. Then, Richardson was picked off by Lincoln Bingham and he ran it back 19 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-7 with 14:22 to go in the second quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Warden found a seam and raced 89 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-14 with 14:05 left in the half. Nashville's next possession was thwarted when Wardlaw was intercepted by Artie Damon at the Orlando 46-yard line. The Predators could not take advantage, however, as Richardson was stripped of the ball by RW Burns and Jaureen Karnes recovered for the Kats at the Nashville 21-yard line. The teams would trade punts, then Nashville looked to add to their lead. But Daniel Stevenson's 32-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked. Orlando consequently drove 52 yards on 7 plays, ending with Abel White kicking a 43-yard field goal to make it 21-17 with 30 seconds to go in the second quarter. Oliver Osler would fumble the ensuing kickoff, and Eddy Guess fell on it for the Predators at the Kats' 31-yard line. The turnover set up a 48-yard field goal by White with 4 seconds remaining to make it 21-20 at halftime.
Nashville opened the second half by driving 77 yards on 6 plays. Wardlaw finished the drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Alza Chipman to make it 28-20 with 11:26 left in the third quarter. After an Orlando punt, the Kats were stymied on three plays starting from the Predators' 37-yard line. But still, Stevenson was able to connect on a 54-yard field goal to extend the lead to 31-20 with 8:24 left in the third. The Predators would answer with a 6-play, 67-yard drive. Richardson would throw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Stewart Lamons, and a successful 2-Point Conversion made it 31-28 with 5:23 to go in the third quarter. Nashville would answer with a 7-play, 48-yard drive, and Stevenson would kick a 43-yard field goal to make it 34-28 with 1:42 remaining in the third.
Orlando looked to take the lead on their next drive, but D.J. Giles fumbled the ball, and Lando Reynolds reutrned it 21 yards to the Nashville 32-yard line.The Kats punted the ball away, and the Predators again looked to find the end zone. But this time, Caleb Doering lost the ball and Tamlin Lake recovered for the Kats at the Nashville 35-yard line. The Kats looked to put it out of reach, but Darius Talie intercepted Wardlaw and ran it back 26 yards to the Predators' 43-yard line. Orlando was turned away on fourth down in Nashville territory, and then the Kats drove 30 yards on 7 plays, ending with Stevenson kicking a 44-yard field goal to make it 37-28 with 1:42 remaining in the game. Bingham picked off Richardson to snuff out Orlando's last attempt to score.
Nashville (8-5) gained 428 yards of total offense. The Kats ran for 175 yards on 34 carries. Osler led the team with 133 yards on 23 carries. He also caught 3 passes for 60 yards. Osler also broke the AFL single-season rushing record set by San Jose's Alan Sale last season (1,066 yards after 13 games). Wardlaw was 15-of-29 passing for 270 yards, 3 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 17 yards. Vittorio Swane caught 3 passes for 41 yards. The Kats visit the Chicago Rush next week.
Orlando (2-11) gained 368 yards of total offense. The Predators ran for 62 yards on 19 carries. Richardson led the team with 26 yards on 3 carries. He was 24-of-36 passing for 347 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked seven times, losing 41 yards. Doering led with 5 receptions for 46 yards. Leonard Irving caught 4 passes for 100 yards. The Predators visit the Milwaukee Mustangs next week.
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